Truck for transporting filing cabinets



March 6, 1962 H. E. REYNOLDS TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTING FILING CABINETS Filed Feb. 3, 1960 INVENTOR. HENRY E. REYNOLDS BY & jh mwz,

ATTORNEY 3,024,036 TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTING FHJHNG CINETS Henry E. Reynolds, 616 E. Mifilin St, Madison, Wis. Filed Feb. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 6,429 8 Claims. (Cl. 280-791) This invention relates to trucks and dollies, and particularly those that are useful for the moving of filing cabinets and the like.

The movement of filing cabinets from one place to another, especially movement for considerable distances as from one building to another has been considered a rather unpleasant and difiicult task. Usually such cabinets are four or five drawers in height, so that they are awkward to handle and quite heavy. In the moving of such filing cabinets from place to place the drawers are often filled with filed papers which add very substantially to the weight and difliculty in handling. Moreover, the drawers of the filing cabinet are generally unlocked, and are operated on ball-bearing rollers which permit them to open easily and to extend themselves forward from the cabinet so as to overbalance the weight of the cabinet, and cause tipping.

In the past, such filing cabinets have usually been moved on a two-wheel moving truck having a frame with handles extending rearward from the wheels. A metal bar extends forward from the wheels which becomes engaged under the cabinet at its rear corner when the rear side is raised slightly, and the cabinet is then pulled back so that the back of the cabinet rests on the frame and handles of the truck. The operator then holds the cabi net in such slanted position by holding the handles and pushes it forward much in the same manner as pushing a wheelbarrow.

There are certain disadvantages in the use of such twowheel trucks. For example, in raising the rear end of the filing cabinet to permit the metal bar of the truck to extend thereunder, the drawers may slide forward, and, if filled with papers, they may cause the filing cabinet to become overbalanced and to fall forward. After the metal bar is placed under the rear of the cabinet, considerable effort is required to pull the cabinet backward by the operator, who at the same time must hold the handles of the cart to balance the cabinet in a slanted position as it falls backward. As he pushes the loaded truck, he must bear a considerable portion of the weight of the filing cabinet and its contents. The degree of discomfort of the operator as he pushes the truck will depend upon the weight of the cabinet, the length of the truck and the handles, and his own height. For example, a tall man using a truck with short handles may be required to walk in an uncomfortable stooping position to retain the cabinet at the desired slant. When the operator reaches his destination with the two-wheel, he raises the handles of the truck to set the cabinet on the floor. As the truck pivots forward on its wheels, the weight and momentum of the filing cabinet may cause the operator to lose some control over the cabinet as the forward portion of the cabinet drops to the floor, and the operator continues to hold the handles of the cart. Such momentum sometimes causes the drawers to go forward and overbalance the cabinet. There is a further likelihood of such overbalancing by the sliding drawers when the operator raises the rear end of the cabinet in order to remove the metal bar of the truck from underneath the cabinet. Furthermore, after the cabinet is unloaded from such a two-wheel truck, it is often necessary to turn or move the cabinet some distance as it is not possible to place the cabinet in position against a wall, because there must be a substantial space between the wall and the cabinet for removal of the truck. If the cabinet is wheeled directly to the wall by the truck, the cabinet must be turned as the drawers would otherwise open against the wall. Such moving or turning of the cabinet to get it in place with the rear end of the cabinet against the wall, requires two or more men to lift the cabinet in place, or slide it on the floor which scratches the flooring or damages the carpeting. A further disadvantage of such a two-wheel truck rests in the contact of the upper portion of the cabinet with the trucks, which sometimes causes denting and scratching of the cabinet.

Sometimes filing cabinets are moved on level fourwheel dollies, but with even greater difliculties than the two-wheel truck above described. If the cabinet is to be in upright position on such a level dolly, it is necessary for two or more men to lift the cabinet on the dolly. As it is pushed over inclines, ramps or uneven surfaces, the drawers are likely to open and overbalance the filing cabinet. It also requires two or more men to unload the cabinet when it reaches its destination. If it is desired to place the cabinet with its rear end on the level dolly and the drawers facing upward, there is similar difiiculty in loading and unloading. Moreover, placing the cabinet in such position may cause the contents of the drawers to become displaced and scrambled, causing great difiiculty getting such contents back in orderly condition.

An object of the present invention is to provide a truck for the movement of filing cabinets and similar objects which can be conveniently loaded, moved and unloaded by one person regardless of his height.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a truck wherein the opening of filing cabinet drawers and overbalancing of such cabinets therefrom is greatly minimized.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a truck for moving filing cabinets and other objects whereby they are spotted at the location desired with a minimum of moving after they are removed from the truck.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a truck for moving filing cabinets wherein contact between the upper portion of the cabinet and the truck is practically eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a truck which can be easily manufactured and sturdily constructed for long usage.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of 4-drawer filing cabinet.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of my truck.

FIG. 3 is a top and front perspective view of my truck.

My truck 9 has a body portion 10 of heavy sheet steel which may be stamped into the desired shape. The body portion 10 has a sloping bottom or platform 11 and sides 12 which may be sloped as to be narrower at their forward end 13 than at their rearward end 14. Horizontally disposed wings 15 extend outwardly from sides 12. When my truck is stamped out of a rectangular sheet with the sloping platform 11 and sloped sides 12, the rear ends 16 of Wings 15 are narrower than the forward ends 17, by reason of the fact that rearward end 14 of side 12 is wider than forward end 13. Forward wheels 18 are pivotally mounted in mountings 19 and secured to wings 15 by nuts and bolts 20. Rear wheels 21 are mounted in mountings 22 by nuts and bolts 23. Rear wheels 21 may also be pivotally mounted, or if desired, forward wheel mountings 19 may be stationary. Support bars 24 may be secured to the bottom of platform 11 to add strength and rigidity, and to serve as handles. Of course, the wheels may be secured directly to the bottom of platform 11, in which case the wings 15 may be omitted. I prefer, however to have the wheels secured to wings 15, as shown my truck carrying a Patented Mar. 6, 1962' in FIGS. 1 and 3, as larger, more stable wheels 18 and 21 may be used to provide better control by the operator in moving the cabinet to the desired location. It is obvious that three wheels may be used rather than four, all or some of which may be swivelly mounted, as desired, though four wheels, as shown, gives added stability in moving heavy objects.

FIG. 1 shows a filing cabinet 25 in position on my truck 9 as it rests on sloping platform 11. The rear end 26 of the filing cabinet normally extends behind the rear end of the truck 9. The forward end 27 of filing cabinet 25 with drawers 28 having handles 29 is at the forward end of truck 9. Wheels 18 and 21 are resting on floor 30. As shown in FIG. 1, with the slanting position of the filing cabinet 25 the drawers 28 remain closed, and the cabinet may be pushed from the rear to any location desired. The slope of the platform helps to provide sufficient frictional resistance to prevent the cabinet from sliding from the platform as it is pushed along. Sides: 12 prevent the cabinet from turning on the truck and from sliding sideways.

When the filing cabinet 25 is transported to the desired location, it may be spotted at about the exact location desired and removed from the truck. To remove the cabinet 25 from the truck 9, it is necessary merely to pull the cabinet rearward so that the corner 32 of the cabinet rests on the floor 30 as shown in the dotted lines of FIG. 1. The operator may then kick the truck 9 from under the filing cabinet and lower the front end of the cabinet slowly to the floor 30 with both hands and thereby preventing the drawers from opening. If the rear end of the cabinet is to be placed against a wall, it is necessary to lift or push it only a very short distance to the wall with a minimum of damage to the floor or floor covering.

Likewise, when it is desired to load the filing cabinet 25 on the truck 9, the forward end 27 of the cabinet is raised so that the cabinet rests on corner 32, and truck 9 is rolled under the forward end of the cabinet which is then lowered onto the truck. As shown, the operator is not required to carry and balance the weight of the filing cabinet, as he must do when using the conventional twowheel truck, but needs only to push the cabinet on the cart to its destination. The only contact of the cabinet with the truck is on the bottom of each and possibly the sides 12 of the truck with the lower sides of the cabinet.

It is to be understood that the device herein shown and described is a preferred embodiment of my invention, but that it is susceptible of various modified forms as comprehended by the spirit of the invention within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A truck for transporting filing cabinets and the like comprising, a continuous straight open-ended open topped sloping platform having the forward end at a higher elevation than the rear end with vertically disposed sides extending from the forward end to the rear end of the platform, a plurality of wheels secured to and extending downward from said platform.

2. The invention described in claim. 1 wherein the wheels are pivotally mounted to permit steering of the truck when it is being moved.

3. A truck for transporting filing cabinets and the like comprising, a continuous straight open-ended, open-topped sloping platform having the forward end at a higher elevation than the rear end with vertically disposed sides extending from the forward end to the rear end of the platform, horizontally disposed wings extending outwardly from each side for substantially the length of the truck, a plurality of wheels secured to and extending downward from said wings.

4. The invention described in claim 3 wherein the sides are uniformly tapered as to be wider at the rear end than at-the forward end.

5. The invention described in claim 3 wherein the wheels are pivotally mounted to permit steering of the truck when it is being moved.

6. The invention described in claim 3, wherein the wings are tapered as to be wider at the forward end than at the rear end.

7. A dolly for transporting a filing cabinet with a bottom, a bottom rear corner and a front with pull-out drawers from one floor area to another comprising, a continuous straight open-ended, open-topped slanted platform having its forward end at a higher elevation than the rear end with vertically disposed sides extending from the forward end to the rear end of the platform, wings extending outwardly from each side for substantially the length of the truck, a plurality of wheels secured to and extend ing downward from said wings, the rear end of the platform being such distance from the floor whereby the front of the filing cabinet may be raised to pivot on its rear corner and lowered on to said platform when the platform is placed under the raised bottom portion of said filing cabinet, the slant of the platform being such that the filing cabinet is completely raised off the floor when it is resting on said platform, and the drawers retained in closed position by gravity, by reason of said slant of the platform.

8. A truck for transporting filing cabinets and the like comprising, a continuous straight open-ended, open-topped sloping platform having the forward end at a higher elevation than the rear end with vertically disposed sides extending from the forward end to the rear end of the platform, support means secured to the underside of the platform which support means provide a handle, a plurality of wheels secured to and extending downward from said platform.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 863,122 Weber Aug. 13, 1907 1,970,159 Zehnbauer Aug. 14, 1934 2,061,673 Robinson Nov. 24, 1936 2,259,399 Sutter Oct. 14, 1941 2,552,804 Morris May 15., 1951 2,575,968 McCallum Nov. 20, 1951 2,610,758 Hulbert Sept. 16, 1952 2,872,240 Bennett Feb. 3, 1959 

